Research Technical Report

Exploring the Davidson Seamount

Douros, W.J. (June 2002)

NOAA Report 11(6):4-5.

ABSTRACT

Tuck, who "flies" the unmanned research submersible Tiburon for the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and prefers to use only one name, said it simply, "This place is special. I've never seen anything like it."

"This place" is the Davidson Seamount, an underwater mountain 60 miles offshore of central California.

In a research expedition to the seamount May 17-24 funded by NOAA's Office of Exploration, Tuck spent his day "playing" what appeared to be an elaborate and expensive video game. In reality, he was operating Tiburon from a video control panel aboard ship, connected by cable to the sub below.

The 7,800-foot-tall Davidson Seamount rises sharply to 4,000 feet below the sea's surface. To dive on it safely, collect specimens and produce publication-quality imagery, NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary contracted with Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute for the use of Tiburon.